Nikon D7100 24.1 MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR (Body Only)

$839.00

Nikon

D7100

After comparing top rated cameras in the key metrics of image quality, AF system, ease of use, video capture, price-to-performance ratio, and user feedback, we’ve chosen the Nikon D7100 as the best camera for most bloggers.

Introduction

Gone were the days when you could use just about any pictures in a blog. The current decree is you must have high quality pictures, and the only way to accomplish that is with a good camera. There’s no need to reach for top-of-the-line models. Technology is like time. It waits for no one. Entry-level DSLR cameras are getting better and cheaper and packed with more features all the time.

Even if you’re not an expert photographer, the thing to do is get a good camera first. This way you can look up photography tips for that specific camera model and practice. You’ll be a good photographer in no time!

For most types of blogging, all you need is a prime lens, and that goes for fashion blog, lifestyle blog, food blog, beauty blog, news blog, instructional blog, travel blog, etc. For sports blog and nature blog you’ll need a faithful zoom lens to go with the camera body and prime lens.

$436.00

The Nikon D5300 came out one year after the D7100 so it has more up-to-date features such as articulating screen, HDR, and built-in Wi-Fi. It went one step further with built-in GPS for tagging the location of your pictures, which could be very useful for blogging.

The D5300 is Nikon’s subframe DX-format DSLR camera, one step above entry-level. As the prices indicate, it’s not supposed to be as good as the D7100 though the D5300’s 24.2 MP resolution is a hair better. The LCD screen is a swivel/articulating screen that Nikon called Vari-angle but it has 20% less dots than the D7100’s fixed screen.

The AF system has 39 points with 9 of them cross-types, fewer than the D7100 but it features a new 3D Tracking algorithm to better follow moving objects. This makes the D5300 suitable for video blogging as well. With 3D Tracking and a burst mode of 5 fps, the D5300 is a competent camera for sports blogging.

Add a prime lens and a zoom lens and the Nikon D5300 can get up to $1000. Fear not, a sub-$500 deal is next.

Canon

Rebel SL1

Our pick

Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

$499.99

“This is a great little state of the art camera and lens which takes lovely still photos without much fuss in an affordable tiny package.”

Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

$499.99

The Rebel series name alone should appeal to some bloggers. The Canon SL1 is the world’s smallest and lightest DSLR camera. Couple this with the ultra-slim Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM prime lens and what you get is a genuinely portable DSLR camera on the go.

Few things inspire like a good camera. Don’t be surprised if the SL1 gave your photography and writing a boost once in a while. The SL1’s APS-C sensor is capable of 18 MP. The LCD screen is a good quality touchscreen. In addition, the software that comes with Canon cameras is the best in the business.

The 9 AF points with just one cross-type point in the middle doesn’t tell the whole story. The SL1 features Canon’s new Hybrid CMOS AF II system. It combines the speed of phase-detect AF and the precision of contrast AF to cover a larger area (80% frame coverage) with enhanced speed and accuracy. This hybrid phase/contrast AF system is particularly great for video and burst mode.

The SL1 is fully 43% lighter and smaller than the comparable Canon T5i. To achieve this much smaller size and weight, Canon had to make the LCD screen non-swiveling and forgo Wi-Fi capability all together.

Nikon

D7100

Our pick

Nikon D7100 24.1 MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR (Body Only)

$839.00

“It’s a great camera for someone looking to step past the beginner models but doesn’t want to spend $2000 on just the body. I use mine to shoot concerts, nature, and portraits, and the shots turn out great.”

Nikon D7100 24.1 MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR (Body Only)

$839.00

“It’s a great camera for someone looking to step past the beginner models but doesn’t want to spend $2000 on just the body. I use mine to shoot concerts, nature, and portraits, and the shots turn out great.”

The D7100 is the first Nikon DSLR cameraequipped with a sensor specially designed for use without the need for an optical low-pass filter. Doing without the anti-aliasing filter results in pictures that are sharper and more faithful to the original. This design concept has made it to every Nikon DSLR camera since then.

The D7100 is a subframe APS-C sized DSLR camera – or what Nikon called DX-format. The resolution is 24.1 MP, more than any blogger would ever need. It replaced the wildly popular D7000, and by all accounts the D7100 exceeded its predecessor in every aspect.

It has a larger and brighter LCD screen with more dots, and that’s just the appetizer. The vastly improved AF system features 51 focus points, with 15 of them being cross-type AF points. The autofocus works fast and responsive – you really don’t have to be an expert photographer to take great pictures with the Nikon D7100.

Combine the new AF system with the D7100’s burst mode of 6 fps (up to 100 shots) and you know this is an awesome camera for action shots and sports photography. Moreover, the manual exposure control is a breeze to use for time-lapse images. It also feature’s Nikon’s Auto ISO algorithm that automatically adjusts minimum shutter speed according to the focal length of your lens, and you can tweak it with a lower or higher ISO bias.

The D7100 has been around since 2013 but remains an awesome camera. If you’re good at what you do, it’ll pay for itself in no time. The drawback is that it doesn’t have the latest and greatest features such as articulating LCD screen and built-in Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi adaptor is available separately for $39.

Conclusion

Ultimately the choice of the Nikon D7100, Nikon D5300 or Canon SL1 depends on your individual preference and the type of blogging you do. You really can’t go wrong with Nikon or Canon, so if either brand has a better impression on you, just go with that brand and the world will be a better place for it.

If you take a lot of pictures, especially ones with moving objects, look no further than the Nikon D7100 if your budget allows it. As an intermediate-level APS-C DSLR camera with professional-grade AF system, the D7100 is a camera that you can grow into. With care this camera can serve most bloggers well for years.

If you move around a lot while taking pictures, consider the Nikon that’s one step down, the D5300 and its articulating LCD screen. Its AF system may not be as good as the D7100 but it’s more advanced than the comparable Canon.

Lastly, if you demand the ultimate portability in a DSLR camera, the Canon SL1 is the obvious choice. The touchscreen operating system makes it even more fun to use.

BRANDBALLOT

Best Camera for Blogging

★★

Nikon D7100 24.1 MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR (Body Only)

$839.00

Nikon

D7100

After comparing top rated cameras in the key metrics of image quality, AF system, ease of use, video capture, price-to-performance ratio, and user feedback, we’ve chosen the Nikon D7100 as the best camera for most bloggers.